Sunday, August 26, 2012

The initial results of the religion and paternal age survey have been intriguing, so much so that it may justify a more methodical investigation into the hypothesis. However, we need a bit more information in order to tease out the strength of an effect called the demographic confound.

So, if you don't mind answering the following questions, please do so, but keep the following instructions in mind: Answer only for yourself. Not your siblings, your children, or your parents. Also, Anonymous responses will not be counted.

Name. (Not real name, just make something up so we can keep things straight.)
Birth year.
Age of father at birth
Age of mother at birth
Sex (M/F)
Parents married through age 18 (Y/N)
Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. (1-7). The milestones are as follows:

1. Strong theist. 100 per cent probability of God. In the words of C.G. Jung: "I do not believe, I know."
2. De facto theist. Very high probability but short of 100 per cent. "I don't know for certain, but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that he is there."
3. Leaning towards theism. Higher than 50 per cent but not very high. "I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in God."
4. Completely impartial. Exactly 50 per cent. "God's existence and non-existence are exactly equiprobable." Agnostic.
5. Leaning towards atheism. Lower than 50 per cent but not very low. "I do not know whether God exists but I'm inclined to be skeptical."
6. De facto atheist. Very low probability, but short of zero. "I don't know for certain but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there."
7. Strong atheist. "I know there is no God, with the same conviction as Jung knows there is one."

VryeDenkerBirth year : 1982Age of father at birth : 25Age of mother at birth : 27Sex (M/F) : MParents married through age 18 (Y/N) : N (divorced at 12, dad deceased at 19)Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability : 1 (2 during my teens).

My natural parents were college kids at time of birth, lower twenties.-------------------Vox, you are on the right goal but wrong substance. The Enlightenment was mostly a movement of atheists. In noticing the movers and shakers, none of them except J.S. Mills, had a father connection. They lived lives of roaming (leaving home early), their father died early, non-existent childhood. It is obvious to me that atheists have father issues. But I don't think it is age related but the lack of - or abusive relationship with father.

I actually debated answering 1 or 2 because I don't like speaking in absolutes. Could there be no God? Theoretically Yes, but I don't see how. Is there no God? The chances are vanishingly small. 5 9's or better.

I agree with Paul on this, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Name: DennisBirth year: 1959Age of father at birth: 29Age of mother at birth: 25Sex (M/F): MParents married through age 18 (Y/N): Y (still married)Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability: 1

Name. DavidBirth year. (1979)Age of father at birth (died before my birth - age 26)Age of mother at birth (age 27)Sex (M)Parents married through age 18 (N, due to death of father)Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. (1)

Name. qwerty987Birth year.1953Age of father at birth. 52Age of mother at birth.30Sex (M/F). MParents married through age 18 (Y/N). Y Father deceased at my age 6Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. 1

Name. Frank Brady (I don't care to be anonymous)Birth year. 1942Age of father at birth: 29Age of mother at birth: 21Sex (M/F): MParents married through age 18 (Y/N): YStrength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability: 1

And I "know" because of some life-experiences that are otherwise inexplicable.

Name. SharpsKCBirth year. 1977Age of father at birth 26Age of mother at birth 30Sex (M/F) NParents married through age 18 (Y/N) N (divorce when I was 11)Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. 5For what its worth AQ tested last year at 34

Noah B.19782722MY4 (This is somewhat of an arbitrary answer -- I don't know how to rationally assign a probability metric to the likelihood of God's existence. A better answer would be, I have no idea how likely it is that God exists.)

Name. Res Ipsa Birth year. 1972Age of father at birth 23Age of mother at birth 21Sex (M/F) MParents married through age 18 (Y/N)Y (still married today 43 + years)Strength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. 1

Incidental info:Father has a post grad degreeMother is an RN.Myself, brother and sister all have advanced degrees as well. We all attended private christian schools as kids. We all earned at least our first degree at Christian colleges. All of us are married to our first and only spouse too.

Birth year. 1962Age of father at birth 22Age of mother at birth 20Sex (M/F) MParents married through age 18 (Y/N) YStrength of belief on the Spectrum of Theistic Probability. (1-7). The milestones are as follows: 1